Drawer adjusting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A drawer adjusting mechanism is able to adjust dimensional errors of a drawer, so that the drawer may be accurately mounted and smoothly slide on two rails of the drawer. The drawer adjusting mechanism includes a drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust any error in the drawer bottom level caused by errors in the thickness and dimensions of the drawer bottom, a drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust any error in the sliding direction of the drawer caused by a drawer front panel not centered at a front end of a drawer box, and a drawer slope adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust any axial slope of the drawer to enable smooth sliding of the drawer along the rails thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drawer adjusting mechanism, and more particularly to a drawer adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust dimensional errors of a drawer for the drawer to smoothly slide on the rails thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drawers have become an indispensable item in people's daily life, and are widely used in governmental agencies and private enterprises for document management, as well as in most families for holding various articles. Currently, most drawers available in the markets are mass-produced on production lines in factories. It is very possible these mass-produced drawers are not accurately produced and assembled to result in many problems, such as errors in the drawer bottom level caused by errors in the thickness and dimensions of the drawer bottom, errors in the sliding direction of the drawer caused by a drawer front panel not centered at a front end of a drawer box, and an axial slope of the drawer preventing the drawer from smoothly sliding along the rails thereof. A lot of time and efforts are needed to disassemble and reassemble the drawers or replace some parts thereof, so that the drawers may be smoothly slid along the rails thereof. When a consumer purchases the currently very popular DIY (Do It Yourself) furniture and tries to assemble different parts thereof, the drawers included in the DIY furniture might also have the same dimensional errors.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a drawer adjusting mechanism for adjusting any error in the dimensions of a drawer, so that the drawer could be smoothly slid on the rails thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a drawer adjusting mechanism, which includes a drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism, a drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism, and a drawer slope adjusting mechanism to enable an assembled drawer with errors to smoothly slide along the rails thereof.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism, which includes a fastening plate provided with a centered through hole; two bent plates, each of which has an upward peak being in contact with a lower surface of a bottom of a drawer, the two bent plates being connected at respective inner ends to two opposite ends of the fastening plate to form two joints, and at respective outer ends to a first rail of the drawer; and a connecting element having a shank and an expanded head, the shank being extended through the central hole on the fastening plate to partially screw into the drawer bottom while the expanded head is abutted on an outer side of the central hole; whereby when the connecting element is further screwed into the drawer bottom, the expanded head of the connecting element is brought to press against the fastening plate, and the peaks of the two bent plates and the drawer bottom are brought to displace in a direction generally parallel to a normal of the drawer bottom.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism, which includes a slide section defining an open-bottom recess, which extends across a full length of said slide section and has an open direction generally parallel to a normal of a bottom of a drawer; the recess being engaged with a second rail of the drawer for the slide section to slide in a movement direction defined by the second rail; and the open direction of the recess and the movement direction of the slide section being contained in the same plane; a fixing section being fixedly connected to a first rail of the drawer, and having an axial bore provided at a predetermined position on the fixing section; an elastic connecting section connecting the fixing section to the slide section, and being connected to the fixing section at a joint; and a push element extended through the axial bore on the fixing section to press against a push block formed on the slide section; the push block and the joint of the fixing section and the elastic connecting section being located at two opposite side of the plane containing the open direction of the recess and the movement direction of the slide section; whereby when the push element is pressed against the push block of the slide section, an angular displacement of the slide section occurs to cause the first rail to displace relative to the second rail in a direction generally parallel to a bottom of the drawer.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawer slope adjusting mechanism, which includes a supporting plate being provided at a predetermined position with a first through hole, and disposed between a first and a second rail of a drawer, and the first rail being slidable in a movement direction defined by the second rail; and a push element having a shank and an expanded head, the expanded head being located between the first rail and the supporting plate while the shank being extended through a second through hole provided on the first rail, the expanded head being partially surrounded by the first through hole and in surface contact with the first through hole at a curved contact surface; whereby when the push element is adjusted to push the expanded head against the first through hole, the first rail is angularly displaced relative to the second rail in a direction generally parallel to a normal of a bottom of the drawer.

With the above adjusting mechanisms, any errors in an assembled drawer mounted on the rails may be adjusted for the drawer to smoothly slide on the rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a drawer adjusting mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectioned side view showing the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2 before being adjusted to lift a drawer bottom to a higher level;

FIG. 4 is a sectioned side view showing the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2 after being adjusted to lift a drawer bottom to a higher level;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view showing the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism of FIG. 5 before being adjusted to correct the sliding direction of a drawer;

FIG. 7 is a top view showing the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism of FIG. 5 after being adjusted to correct the sliding direction of a drawer;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a drawer slope adjusting mechanism included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectioned side view showing the drawer slope adjusting mechanism of FIG. 8 before being adjusted to correct an axial slope of a drawer; and

FIG. 10 is a sectioned side view showing the drawer slope adjusting mechanism of FIG. 8 after being adjusted to correct an axial slope of a drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1 that is an exploded perspective view of a drawer adjusting mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the drawer adjusting mechanism of the present invention includes a first rail 2, a second rail 3, at least one drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4, a drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5, and a drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6. The drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4 is formed on the first rail 2 to locate below and support a drawer bottom 1, and to adjust any error in a level of the drawer bottom 1 caused by any error in the thickness of the drawer bottom 1. The drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5 is fixedly mounted to the first rail 2 for the first rail 2 to correct any error in a sliding direction of the drawer caused by a drawer front panel (not shown) not centered at a front end of a drawer box (not shown), so that the drawer could smoothly slide in a movement direction defined by the second rail 3. The drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6 is located between the first rail 2 and the second rail 3 for correcting any error in axial slope of a drawer, so that the drawer could be smoothly slid on the rails.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a perspective view showing the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4 included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and to FIGS. 3 and 4 that are sectioned side views showing the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4 before and after, respectively, being adjusted to correct a level of the drawer bottom 1.

As shown, the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4 includes a fastening plate 41 provided with a centered through hole 411, two upward bent plates 42 connected at respective inner end to two opposite ends of the fastening plate 41, and a connecting element 43. Each of the two upward bent plates 42 includes a peak 422, on which a first through hole or notch 421 is formed to enable easy bending of the peak 422. The connecting element 43 is a screw in the illustrated preferred embodiment, and has an expanded head 431 and a shank 432. The peak 422 is in contact with a lower surface of the drawer bottom 1 to support the drawer bottom 1 thereon. A joint 423 between each of the two upward bent plates 42 and the fastening plate 41 is provided with a second through hole or notch 421 to enable easy bending of the joint 423. An outer end of each of the two bent plates 42 opposite to the fastening plate 41 is connected to the first rail 2. The shank 432 of the screw 43 is upward extended through the central hole 411 to partial screw into the drawer bottom 1 while the expanded head 431 is abutted on an outer surface of the fastening plate 41. When the screw 43 is further tightened against the drawer bottom 1, the expanded head 431 of the screw 43 is brought to push the fastening plate 41 toward the lower surface of the drawer bottom 1, causing the peaks 422 and the drawer bottom 1, which is in contact with the peaks 422, to displace in a direction generally parallel to a normal of the drawer bottom 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5 included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are top views showing the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5 before and after, respectively, being adjusted to correct the sliding direction of a drawer. As shown, the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5 includes a slide section 51, a fixing section 52, an elastic connecting section 53, and a push element 54.

As shown, the slide section 51 defines an open-bottom recess 511 extending across a full length of the slide section 51. An open direction of the recess 511 is parallel to the normal of the drawer bottom 1 (not shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7). The fixing section 53 is provided at a predetermined position with an internally threaded axial bore 531. The push element 54 is a screw in the illustrated preferred embodiment. The recess 511 of the slide section 51 is engaged with the second rail 3 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), causing the slide section 51 to slide in the movement direction defined by the second rail 3. The open direction and the movement direction of the recess 511 are on the same plane. The fixing section 53 is fixedly connected to the first rail 2. The elastic connecting section 52 connects the fixing section 53 to the slide section 51, and is connected to the fixing section 53 at a joint 532. The axial bore 531 has an axial centerline generally parallel to the movement direction determined by the second rail 3. The screw 54 is screwed into and projected from the axial bore 531 to press against a push block 512 provided at a predetermined position on the slide section 51. The push block 512 and the joint 532 are separately located at two opposite sides of the plane containing the open direction and the movement direction of the recess 511, such that when the screw 54 is adjusted to press against the push block 512, an angular displacement of the slide section 51 occurs to cause the first rail 2 to displace relative to the second rail 3 in a direction generally parallel to the drawer bottom 1 (not shown in FIGS. 5 through 7).

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6 included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectioned side views showing the drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6 before and after, respectively, being adjusted to correct an axial slope of a drawer.

As shown, the drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6 includes a supporting plate 61 and a push element 62. The supporting plate 61 is provided at a predetermined position with a through hole 611. The push element 62 is a screw in the illustrated preferred embodiment, and includes an expanded head 621 and a shank 622. The supporting plate 61 is disposed between the first rail 2 and the second rail 3 of the drawer, and the first rail 2 is able to slide in a movement direction defined by the second rail 3. The expanded head 621 of the screw 62 is located between the first rail 2 and the supporting plate 61 while the shank 622 of the screw 62 is upward screwed into and projected from an internally threaded through hole 623 provided on the first rail 2. More specifically, the expanded head 621 of the screw 62 is partially surrounded by the through hole 611 on the supporting plate 61, and is in surface contact with the through hole 61. It is noted a contact surface between the expanded head 621 of the screw 62 and the through hole 611 is a curved surface. When the screw 62 is adjusted to push the expanded head 621 against the through hole 611, an angular displacement of the first rail 2 relative to the second rail 3 in a direction generally parallel to a normal of the drawer bottom 1 (not shown in FIGS. 8 through 10) occurs.

With the drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism 4, the drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism 5, and the drawer slope adjusting mechanism 6 of the drawer adjusting mechanism of the present invention, dimensional errors of an assembled drawer may be adjusted to allow smooth sliding of the drawer on the rails. It is anticipated products derived from the present invention are industrially practical for use and would fully satisfy the current market demands. 

1. A drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism, comprising: a fastening plate provided with a centered through hole; two bent plates, each of which has an upward peak being in contact with a lower surface of a bottom of a drawer; said two bent plates being connected at respective inner end to two opposite ends of said fastening plate to form two joints, and at respective outer end to a first rail of said drawer; and a connecting element having a shank and an expanded head; said shank being extended through said central hole on said fastening plate to partially screw into said drawer bottom while said expanded head is abutted on an outer side of said central hole; whereby when said connecting element is further screwed into said drawer bottom, said expanded head of said connecting element is brought to press against said fastening plate, and said peaks of said two bent plates and said drawer bottom are brought to displace in a direction generally parallel to a normal of said drawer bottom.
 2. The drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said joints of said bent plates and said fastening plate is provided with at least one through hole or notch, so that said joints are easy to bend.
 3. The drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said peaks of said bent plates is provided with at least one through hole or notch, so that said peaks are easy to bend.
 4. The drawer bottom level adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting element is a screw.
 5. A drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism, comprising: a slide section defining an open-bottom recess, which extends across a full length of said slide section and has an open direction generally parallel to a normal of a bottom of a drawer; said recess being engaged with a second rail of said drawer for said slide section to slide in a movement direction defined by said second rail; and said open direction and said movement direction of said recess being located in the same plane; a fixing section being fixedly connected to a first rail of said drawer, and having an axial bore provided at a predetermined position on said fixing section; an elastic connecting section connecting said fixing section to said slide section, and being connected to said fixing section at a joint; and a push element extended through said axial bore on said fixing section to press against a push block formed on said slide section; said push block and said joint of said fixing section and said elastic connecting section being located at two opposite side of said plane containing said open direction and said movement direction of said recess; whereby when said push element is pressed against said push block of said slide section, an angular displacement of said slide section occurs to cause said first rail to displace relative to said second rail in a direction generally parallel to a bottom of the drawer.
 6. The drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said axial bore on said fixing section is internally threaded, and wherein said push element is a screw.
 7. The drawer sliding direction adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said axial bore has an axial centerline generally parallel to said movement direction.
 8. A drawer slope adjusting mechanism, comprising: a supporting plate being provided at a predetermined position with a first through hole, and disposed between a first and a second rail of a drawer, and said first rail being slidable in a movement direction defined by said second rail; and a push element having a shank and an expanded head; said expanded head being located between said first rail and said supporting plate while said shank being extended through a second through hole provided on said first rail; said expanded head being partially surrounded by said first through hole and being in surface contact with said first through hole at a curved contact surface; whereby when said push element is adjusted to push said expanded head against said first through hole, said first rail is angularly displaced relative to said second rail in a direction generally parallel to a normal of a bottom of the drawer.
 9. The drawer slope adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second through hole is internally threaded, and said push element is a screw. 